HLUTTAW SESSIONS:-Pyithu Hluttaw: Pyithu Hluttaw discusses proposal to suspend construction of high-rise buildings in Yangon: "THE Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) discussed an urgent proposal today that would suspend the construction of high-rise buildings in Yangon until they meet all existing rules and regulations for construction. The parliament put the urgent proposal on record, pledging that it would monitor the issue. Regarding the proposal, Deputy Minister for Construction U Soe Tint replied that the ministry is closely supervising buildings that are being built by the ministry to ensure that they follow the rules. However, he added, the Yangon City Development Committee has set up a subcommittee of experts to supervise the construction of buildings higher than 11 storeys. The construction of buildings across the country should follow the existing construction rules and regulations, the deputy minister said. Also at yesterday?s Lower House session, MPs asked questions about the upgrading of a school in Pakokku Township, the drinking water supply in Bilin Township, the repaying agriculture loans in Tamu District and about permissions to use virgin and fallow lands. MP Dr Soe Moe Aung from Bilin Constituency asked whether the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has a plan to supply drinking water from the township?s Kazai Dam to the wards that face a scarcity of water every summer. Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Khin Zaw replied that the ministry mainly supplies irrigation water to local farms. However, the deputy minister said, the ministry will cooperate with local development affairs departments to supply drinking water to the wards if the departments report on the issue to the ministry. MP U Khin Maung Shwe from Tamu Constituency asked whether the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has any plan to settle the issue of farmers struggling to repay agriculture loans following the loss of their farmlands to floods. The MP also asked for the ministry to arrange for virgin and fallow lands to be provided to farmers who lost their farms. Deputy Minister U Khin Zaw replied that the farmers should request their township?s bank manager to delay the deadline for loan repayment. During the last rainy season, floods damaged 7,318 acres of farmland in Tamu District, of which 4,353 acres have been recovered. At the parliament session, Minister for Health Dr Than Aung suggested that more wards be added to Yangon General Hospital, as the hospital has seen an increase in the number of patients it receives, jumping from around 25,000 in 2013 to 62,500 in 2014."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: Divide and monitor: NCA parties to set up truce observation scheme in Shan State...Tatmadaw aims to remove AA insurgents from Rakhine State...225 reported fires in Yangon Region during 2015...Courts aim to improve public trust through outreach...Joint Bill Committee, Finance Ministry discuss Tax of the Union bill for 2016...MYANMAR GAZETTE...Model year for imported cars restricted...Flood risk management scheme implemented in Hpakant...Lahu community celebrates New Year...Woman charged under new Monogamy Law...Police arrest suspects in stolen motorbike case...More than 10,000 yabba pills seized last week...7,765 yabba pills seized in Hsenwi...Man stabbed to death in Mandalay..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker receives former British PM..... "OPINION": "The socio-economic promise of the NCA" by Khin Maung Aye..... ARTICLE: "Looking forward to a peaceful, bountiful, happy and vibrant 2016" by Myo Myint